311

About 311

311 chose its name based on the police code 311 (for indecent exposure) after a friend of the band was arrested and fined for skinny dipping. A rumor about the band’s name being related to alleged ties to white supremacy were found to be untrue.

The band formed in 1990 in Omaha, Nebraska, defining their sound as ‘hybrid music’ in which they fuse hip-hop, heavy rock, reggae and dance hall. Their first gig was opening for the legendary DC hardcore band Fugazi.

311 released an EP and two albums independently and found enough regional success in the midwest to sign with Capricorn Records and relocate to LA. In 1996, “Down”, the second single from their third album with Capricorn, hit #1 on the US Alt Rock chart and achieved modest success in Canada and Australia.

Over the next fifteen years, the band scored seven more top 10 Alt Rock hits in the US including their 2004 cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong”, which reached #1 and crossed over onto the Hot 100. As of 2018, 311’s last ten albums have all reached the top 10 in the US, with six certified Gold or above.

In 2005, 311 were thrust into the media spotlight when Creed vocalist Scott Stapp entered a Baltimore bar and drunkenly attacked the band and one member’s wife – first vocally, then physically.